Former neighbours also paid tribute to Ruby, who moved to the care home with her 95-year-old husband three years ago.

Former neighbour George Brunswick, 58, said: "They were really nice and friendly, they'd always give us a wave, couldn't imagine anyone wanting to do anything to them or to say anything bad about them.

"They were retired when we got here 20 years ago- but they were old, you know?

"They moved to the same home.

"We just really can't believe it to be honest - we didn't know them well but we know that their family still live there but they never speak to us."

Ruby and former docker Leslie, who was also known as Robert or Bob, moved out of their £450,000 terraced home in Loughton, which they'd lived in for more than 40 years, in 2014.